Achievements

Patricia Cianciolo (Sociology and Social Work) received the Three Arches Excellence in Education Award from her undergraduate alma mater, Urbana University. She is pictured holding her award after being honored at a fall alumni/senior dinner held in conjunction with the school's homecoming activities. The Three Arches Awards were established by the Urbana University Alumni Association to focus on the end product of the school ’s educational program, as well as the achievements of alumni since their graduation. Cianciolo received her bachelor's degree from Urbana in 1976.

Northern was awarded a Brighter Futures grant from Michigan Campus Compact (MCC) for a program titled Good Books for Everyone: English 110 and Teaching Family Homes. Students enrolled in Kia Jane Richmond's English 110 class this fall were paired with youth from Marquette's Teaching Family Homes to promote literacy, service and higher education. They discssed reading habits, the qualities of good books and the benefits of attending college. This initiative, which fostered mentoring between college students and disadvantaged youth, included at-risk students from NMU's college transitions program, as well as traditional first-year college students. Northern was one of 11 award recipients in the MCC's 2007-08 granting cycle.

Spreading Holiday Cheer

NMU employee groups have found different ways to spread holiday cheer to the community this season. The local "Adopt a Family" program might need a sleigh to transport all of the presents purchased by the technical and office professionals (formerly clerical/technical) union, UAW 1950. Members are picture wrapping gifts for the families they adopted: a father with two children; and a two-parent household with four children. "Wish lists" for each family were e-mailed to the union and members purchased gifts or donated money. The union also collects canned food items during its "after-the-holidays" party in January to contribute to area food banks.

The administrative/professional union (UAW 2178) approved financial donations of $7,500 to the TV6 Canathon and $5,000 to the United Way of Marquette County. According to Tom Argetsinger (Engineering and Planning), UAW 2178 has contributed $36,000 to the Canathon since 2002 and $15,000 to the United Way since 2005.